In a Q&A with The Washington Post, European Commission Vice President Viviane Reding said that self-regulation is "little more than a fig leaf" and only works "if there is strong, legally binding regulation in the first place." Reding also stressed the need for harmonization in the European marketplace. Having a business "abide by 27 different interpretations of the EU" data protection laws "makes no sense for a business and is absolutely cumbersome." In discussing European and American approaches to privacy, Reding said there's clearly a difference, but added, "I also want to say that we are heartened to see proposals such as the one by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) for new online privacy rules." (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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